In response to the complex challenges faced by the port sector and the related shipping and logistics industries, the Global Port Research Alliance (GPRA) has been formed among leading universities in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The main objective of GPRA is to establish a global research and teaching platform for port operations, maritime and transport logistics by building collaborative arrangements among GPRA members, as well as between GPRA and the industry.

The first GPRA meeting was held in 2014 at the University of Sydney. Holding the GPRA 2015 in Hong Kong will provide alliance members with an opportunity to look more closely at Hong Kong. Hong Kong is strategically located in the world's major trade routes. Handling over 20 million TEUs annually, the port of Hong Kong is one of the busiest container ports in the world. The port also provides hundreds of weekly container-liner shipping services connecting to global cargo origins and destinations.

GPRA 2015 is an excellent platform to enhance collaboration between academic researchers to generate possible solutions to address current and emerging shipping and port related issues. It also provides opportunities for multi-stakeholder dialogue to develop creative methods to tackle unresolved challenges in port operations and management.

The theme of GPRA 2015 is "Port and Logistics Connectivity". Shipping and trading goods through various modes and nodes facilitates international trade, industrial specialisation, scale economies in production and distribution, and global supply chain integration. The competitiveness of countries, industries and supply chains relies heavily on the scope and level of connectivity and integration into global port and logistics networks.

The GPRA 2015 conference will provide a forum to address both the theoretical approaches and practical applications associated with port and logistics connectivity. GPRA 2015 will serve as a platform to facilitate international research and industrial collaboration to examine the multifaceted issues related to port and logistics connectivity, and develop frameworks and solutions to enhance the integration and connectivity of port and logistics systems.

Conference Organiser:

• Shipping Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Conference Co-organisers:

• Imperial College London, Port Operations and Technology Centre
• Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation, MIT Global SCALE Network
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics
• National University of Singapore, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• University of Hamburg, Institute of Information Systems
• University of Sydney, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies
• University of Sao Paulo, Innovation Centre for Logistics and Ports Infrastructure

Industry Section Organisers:

• Hong Kong Sea Transport and Logistics Association
• Hong Kong Shippers' Council
• The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong

Supporting Organisations:

• Hong Kong Container Terminal Operators Association
• Hong Kong Logistics Management Staff Association
• Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies
• Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited
• Institute of Transport Studies, The University of Hong Kong
• The Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Business

Conference Chair:

• Dr Venus Lun, Shipping Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Conference Co-chairs:

• Prof. Kee-hung Lai, Shipping Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Dr Khalid Bichou, GPRA Advisor and Coordinator, Port Operations Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London

International Steering Committee Members:

• Dr Panagiotis Angeloudis, Port Operations Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London
• Prof. Michael Bell, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, The University of Sydney
• Prof. Edwin Cheng, Shipping Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Dr Ioannis N Lagoudis, Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovations, MIT Global SCALE Network
• Prof. Washington Ochieng, Port Operations Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London
• Prof. Jim Rice, Centre for Transportation and Logistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Prof. Loon Ching Tang, Department of Industrial and System Engineering, National University of Singapore
• Prof. Stefan Voß, Institute of Information Systems, The University of Hamburg
• Prof. Rui Carlos Botter, Innovation Centre for Logistics and Ports Infrastructure, The University of Sao Paulo

The GPRA 2015 conference will provide a forum to address both the theoretical approaches and practical applications associated with port and logistics connectivity. GPRA 2015 will serve as a platform to facilitate international research and industrial collaboration to examine the multifaceted issues related to port and logistics connectivity, and develop frameworks and solutions to enhance the integration and connectivity of port and logistics systems.

Important dates:

• Deadline for abstracts: 31 October 2014
• Notification of acceptance of abstracts: November 2014
• Deadline for submission of full papers: January 2015
• Notification of acceptance of full papers: March 2015

All abstracts and papers must be submitted to: gpra.src@polyu.edu.hk

Contributions are invited on topics within the conference scope and other relevant topics.

Full Papers

Full papers may be submitted for consideration for inclusion in the conference proceedings, following peer-review by referees.

Please click here to download the information for author.

Short Papers

Authors may submit short papers for presentation. In this case, short papers should be submitted in the form of an extended abstract (from one to four pages) summarizing the content of the presentation.

Presentation at the Conference

All papers (both full and short tracks) will be accompanied by an oral presentation (15 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for questions) or a poster presentation.

Publication in Special Issues

Authors of selected papers will be invited to submit extended versions of their papers for publication in scholarly journals.

Selected high quality papers will be recommended for publication in the following special issues:

• Special Issue on "Risk Management in Port and Maritime logistics", Accident Analysis and Prevention
• Special Issue on "Shipping and Port Research", International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics
• Special Issue on "Short Sea Shipping in a Globalised World", International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics
• Special Issue on "Shipping, Port and Maritime Logistics", Transportation Research: Part B
• Special Issue on "Container Transportation: Resilience and Sustainability", Transportation Research: Part D
• Special Issue on "Green Port Operations", Transportation Research: Part D
• Special Issue on "Maritime Logistics and Port Connectivity in the Globalised Economy", Transportation Research: Part E

• Global Port Research Alliance Conference on "Port and Logistics Connectivity"
• Conference Booklet

For enquiries, please contact the following:

GPRA 2015 organiser: gpra.src@polyu.edu.hk

GPRA secretariat: business.gpra@sydney.edu.hk

About Hong Kong

The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is an important regional passenger hub and gateway for worldwide destinations. About 90 airlines operate to and from the airport across the globe. HKIA handles more than 50 million passengers annually and ranks as one of the top ten busiest airports worldwide by passenger traffic. HKIA is also the world's business airport by cargo traffic.

The campus of PolyU is strategically located at the centre of the city of Hong Kong. The campus is easily accessible by various means of public transport. The main campus is also linked with a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station by covered footbridges. Attendees may also stay in other hotels close to railway stations.

GPRA 2015 will be held in Hong Kong. Hong Kong, the famous "Pearl of the Orient", is situated in South China enclosed by the Pearl River Delta. Examples of popular attractions in the city for world travellers to visit include, but not limited to, the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, and Temple Street Night Market. The heart of Hong Kong is the Victoria Harbour. The "Symphony of Lights', featuring more than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour, has been named as the "World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show" by the Guinness Book of World Records.

For further travel information about Hong Kong, please visit Hong Kong Tourism Board's website: www.discoverhongkong.com.

(Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board)

Hotel Accommodation

GPRA2015 has made an agreement with hotels near the conference venue, offering special rates to GPRA 2015 participants.

Hotel Icon

No. 17, Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong (location map)

For more information, please click here.

Special Room Rates for GPRA 2015 Participants:

(*plus 10% service charge per room per night, subject to availability)

For Reservation, please click Here or quote "GPRA" and contact
Tel: 852 3400 1000
Email: book@hotel-icon.com

Harbour Plaza Metropolis

7 Metropolis Drive, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong (location map)

For more information, please click here.

Special Room Rates for GPRA 2015 Participants:

(*Room rates are inclusive of service charge and government tax per room per night)

Reservation Deadline: 30 Apr 2015

For Reservation, please download the special Registration Form, and send the completed form via e-mail to the hotel. Rooms are offered by the hotel on first-come-first-served basis.

Contact:
Mr Ray Ng
Sales Manager
Tel: (852) 3160-6890
Email: RayN@harbour-plaza.com

Royal Plaza Hotel

193 Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong (location map)

For more information, please click here.

Special Room Rates for GPRA 2015 Participants:

(*plus 10% service charge per room per night, subject to availability)

Reservation Deadline: 20 Apr 2015

For Reservation, please download the special Registration Form, and send the completed form via e-mail to the hotel. Rooms are offered by the hotel on first-come-first-served basis.

Contact:
Mr Ken Po
Senior Sales Manager
Tel: (852) 2622-6294
Email: kenpo@royalplaza.com.hk

• Keynote Session 1
• Keynote Session 2
• Plenary Session
• Industry Sessions
• Special Sessions
• Academic Sessions A
• Academic Sessions B
• Academic Sessions C
• Academic Sessions D
• Academic Sessions E
• Academic Sessions F
• Open Lecture

Conference Fee:

Conference fee covers the following:

• Admission to all sessions
• Refreshments and scheduled meals during session breaks

Registration & Payment:

• To Register Online
  Please complete the Online Registration Form

• Payment 
  We offer the following secure online payment options: Visa, Mastercard & China UnionPay Card